CVE-2025-53322 Overview
CVE-2025-53322 is a sensitive data exposure vulnerability affecting the ZealousWeb Accept Authorize.NET Payments Using Contact Form 7 plugin for WordPress. The flaw is classified under [CWE-201] Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data. It allows unauthenticated remote attackers to retrieve embedded sensitive data from vulnerable installations. The issue affects all plugin versions up through 2.5.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network-based attackers can retrieve embedded sensitive information from the affected WordPress plugin without user interaction or elevated privileges.
Affected Products
- ZealousWeb Accept Authorize.NET Payments Using Contact Form 7 plugin
- All versions from n/a through 2.5
- WordPress installations running the accept-authorize-net-payments-using-contact-form-7 plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-27 - CVE-2025-53322 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-53322
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the ZealousWeb plugin used to accept Authorize.NET payments through Contact Form 7 on WordPress sites. The plugin embeds sensitive data within outbound content or responses that are accessible to unauthorized parties. Because the plugin handles payment integration, exposed data may include configuration values, integration secrets, or transaction-related information tied to the Authorize.NET connector.
The weakness maps to [CWE-201], where sensitive information is inserted into data sent to another actor. The exposure is retrievable over the network without authentication and does not require user interaction. The impact is limited to confidentiality — integrity and availability of the WordPress instance are not directly affected by this specific issue.
The EPSS probability sits in a low band, but public disclosure through Patchstack increases the likelihood of opportunistic scanning against WordPress sites running the affected plugin.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper handling of sensitive data during output generation. The plugin includes information in transmitted data that should have been filtered, redacted, or kept server-side. Developers did not enforce a strict separation between sensitive configuration and data returned to clients or rendered in plugin-generated responses.
Attack Vector
An unauthenticated attacker sends network requests to a WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin. The attacker parses the response for embedded sensitive fields tied to the Authorize.NET payment integration. No credentials, no user interaction, and no local access are required.
No verified proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-53322
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected GET or POST requests targeting URLs containing accept-authorize-net-payments-using-contact-form-7 plugin paths.
- Anomalous scraping patterns from single source IPs hitting Contact Form 7 endpoints on WordPress sites.
- HTTP responses from plugin endpoints containing payment-integration identifiers or configuration values.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all WordPress installations and identify sites running the Accept Authorize.NET Payments Using Contact Form 7 plugin at version 2.5 or earlier.
- Inspect web server access logs for repeated requests to plugin-owned paths from unauthenticated sources.
- Review outbound HTTP responses generated by the plugin for embedded sensitive fields that should not be client-visible.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable WordPress plugin version telemetry and alert on installs of the affected plugin below the patched version.
- Monitor WAF logs for reconnaissance patterns targeting Contact Form 7 payment integrations.
- Track outbound data volumes from the WordPress host for unusual response sizes on plugin endpoints.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-53322
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all WordPress instances running the ZealousWeb Accept Authorize.NET Payments Using Contact Form 7 plugin at version 2.5 or earlier.
- Rotate any Authorize.NET API credentials, transaction keys, or integration secrets configured within the plugin.
- Deploy a WAF rule to block anonymous access to plugin endpoints until a fixed version is confirmed installed.
Patch Information
As of the last NVD update on 2026-06-17, the advisory tracked at the Patchstack Vulnerability Report is the authoritative source for remediation status. Administrators must update the plugin to a version above 2.5 when the vendor releases a fixed build. If no patched release is available, disable the plugin.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the accept-authorize-net-payments-using-contact-form-7 plugin until a fixed version is released.
- Restrict access to WordPress payment form pages via IP allow-listing or authentication where operationally feasible.
- Route Authorize.NET payment flows through an alternative, actively maintained integration until the vendor patches the plugin.
# Configuration example: disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate accept-authorize-net-payments-using-contact-form-7
wp plugin delete accept-authorize-net-payments-using-contact-form-7
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
